I feel like I'm all alone

The other night, I was out with some girlfriends for Thursday at the Marion. At one point I found myself all alone. All of the five girls I was with went outside for a cigarette, except of course for me. Now, I'm not going to pretend I haven't had a cigarette because I have, but I have max one a day and I usually only do have one when I'm with my friends who are all smokers. Being the one left behind made me realize I need help to quit. I don't think I can rely only on my ability to resist - I need like a nicorette or I've heard about these thrive lozenges. I need just a little something to take the edge off when I'm left feeling awkward by myself in a crowded room of people I don't know.
Does anyone have any advice about what's a good stop-smoking aid? I like to hear your opinions on effectiveness, side-effects, and price.

One week, almost, and I'm doing fine

A lot of you sound surprised that I smoke. And yeah, it's even crazier that I'm so in to health and wellness but yet I'll inhale poison into my lungs. But the truth is I'm not a heavy smoker. The amount I smoke varies like a graph of this year finances, but I do it none the less. Or should I say did it.

I found out something this week, which I wasn't all that surprised to find out, my smoking triggers are when I work and when I drink. And while I can't give up either of those I have to learn to deal. So, I won't lie. I smoked a little this weekend. But, it could have been worse. On Friday night I worked and had one then. It was a temporary lapse, but the only way I get a break is if I have a cigarette. It's almost become like a habit with another habit. If I break this cycle I'm golden.

Another time I smoked this weekend was when I was out Saturday night, but I only had two. I've got to say I was pretty proud of myself; hanging out with my friends who are smokers and not having more than that.

I'll keep posting my journey to quit.

I'm quitting smoking

It's Thursday at 9:52 p.m. and I've decided to quit smoking. Ok, I've decided that I would quit more times then I'd like to admit, but today, tonight is the time. I'm ready, at least I think I'm ready. I along with many others find it extremely difficult to quit smoking. What is it, beyond the addiction part, that makes it so hard? Is it that I think I look cool because movie make it look so freaking good? Am I afraid to gain weight? Or have I really associated reliving stress with smoking a cigarette? The latter is why I've failed so many times in the past. But this time is the right time. I'm ready. I've started to hate the things the bad things about smoking more than the excuses I make to continue smoking. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

My blogs continues to be off topic - Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert review

It’s hard to believe Christmas is only weeks away.

While Winnipegger’s bask in unusually warm weather, the only telltale sign of Christmas are the lights strung around lampposts on Main Street. But snow or not, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) put Winnipeggers in the Christmas spirit Monday night bringing the world’s biggest light show back to town.

As the temperature reached a surprising 10 C, the crowd of over 8,500 at the MTS centre got their first taste of the approaching season. After 11 years on the road performing its winter tour, TSO still rocked its enormous holiday repertoire with help from a killer light extravaganza.

Pyrotechnics heated up the place. Green lasers descended from the stage, engulfing the crowd with light. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, hundreds of coloured lights danced to the wail of instruments and voices. If Pink Floyd were there, they’d have been on their knees shouting, ‘we’re not worthy’.

For almost three hours, beer lines were empty. Not even a lineup for the bathroom. Instead the crowd stared unblinking, mouths open on the sight before them.

The show began just after 7:30 under a shroud of darkness. The only sound came from lone violinist, Roddy Chong, dressed in a black tuxedo adorned with coat tails. His white violin wailed. As he jumped around the stage hammering out Christmas tunes, like Oh Come All Ye Faithfull and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, the traditional stillness of the music was blown away.

It was easy to forget Silent Night is a holiday favorite among carolers. Instead of a group of tuque-clad singers, headbanging guitarists took their place. But behind the longhaired guitarists, a string section from Winnipeg’s own Symphony Orchestra kept the outright rock flavor from spinning out of control.

These musicians regularly pay homage to classical music. But on this night, they accompanied the erratic commotion of rock music with a peacefully soft tone creating an electrifying genre.

While the music exploded from the stage, two male vocalists occasionally took over hypnotizing the audience. Former Journey vocalist, Jeff Scott Soto’s, leaped between octaves like a kid playing hopscotch. The other, husky baritone Tommy Farese guided the crowd through the Christmas tale.

The first half of the show was dedicated to TSO’s holiday albums Christmas Tales and Other Stories and The Christmas Attic. A single narrator led the audience through the holiday selection by regaling the crowd with stories of angels. The story was difficult to follow because it came between songs leaving the audience struggling to remember what had happened before.

While the music reminded the listeners of the nearing holiday season, over 90 minutes of Christmas tunes left the crowd itching for something new.

After playing for an hour and a half straight, TSO took a quick break as New York vocalist Farese introduced the more than 20-member band.

Finally, without missing a beat, TSO gave the people in the stands what they came to see. They pounced into renditions of classical symphonies from their new album Night Castle. With tickets ranging from a mere $25 to $66, TSO left the audience with their hard earned money for the holiday season.

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